6 Reasons to Serve In-Season Fruits and Vegetables in School Cafeterias
It’s common knowledge that the best nutrition programs in schools feature fresh, local, seasonal produce. But how much does serving in-season fruit and vegetables actually matter? Is it really better for your students if you offer them fresh berries and apricots in the spring instead of apples and bananas year-round?
A Dietitian’s Tips for Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Schools
Every nutrition services director knows that it’s important to offer fresh fruit and vegetables in school. That produce delivers critical vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients for students’ growing brains and bodies. Buying, cooking, and serving it is the easy part. The challenge is getting students to eat it! To help
Summer School Food Program Success: 8,000 Students Fed at Kern High School District
It’s July 2026, and Kern High School District’s summer nutrition program is in full swing. Cars of students and their families line up in a makeshift drive-thru to pick up boxes of fresh produce that will keep the kids fed for the next two weeks. One by one, they pull
What are Kiwi Berries? All About This Fun School Snack
Imagine a fruit that combines the sweetness of a grape, the tartness of a kiwi, and the convenience of a berry. Actually, you don’t have to imagine it—you just need to try kiwi berries! These miniature fruit powerhouses are a hit with students and adults alike. They may be small,
California Gravenstein Apples for Schools: A Farm-to-School Favorite
Looking for fresh California-grown produce to celebrate the start of the school year? California Gravenstein apples are only available to schools for a few short weeks, but they’re well worth the wait. These sweet-tart heirloom apples arrive in August just in time for back-to-school season. They’re a favorite among California
The FruitGuys Fed 336,000 Students! 2025–26 School Year Recap
The 2025–26 school year was a big one for The FruitGuys’ Farm-to-School Program. From August through May, we: Fed 336,000 students over 14.3 million servings of fresh, nutritious produce Supported 40 local California farms Mailed 11,200 nutrition education pieces to 7,000 classrooms And much more! Our Impact on Students &
Grab-and-Go Nutrition Education Kits for Students
The FruitGuys Farm-to-School Program now offers Nutrition Education Kits! These done-for-you kits make produce tastings easier for school staff and more fun and educational for students. Each kit comes with a variety of nutrition education materials for hands-on learning, including a flyer, scoring sheet, pencil, sticker, and more. What’s Inside
Everything You Should Know About Strawberries in California
If your students love strawberries, they should probably thank a Golden State farmer, because about 90% of American strawberries grow right here in California. Sprinkled onto yogurt or plucked straight from a fruit tray, sweet strawberries are one of spring’s greatest delights. It’s no wonder we adore them: They’re equally
Meet the Ojai Pixie Tangerine: A Sweet Treat Students Love
Between conferences and standardized testing, spring can be a busy time for California schools like yours. But there’s a bright spot that nutrition services can look forward to every year, along with spring break: sweet Ojai Pixie tangerines, perfect for student snacking! What’s an Ojai Pixie Tangerine? Ojai Pixie tangerines
Meet a Farm-to-School Grower: Leo Diaz of Bonita Farms
Ask Farmer Leo Diaz of Bonita Farms why he loves working his fields in Southern California, and his voice lights up with excitement. “What keeps me going is the satisfaction of knowing I’m able to provide fresh fruits and veggies to communities,” he told The FruitGuys. “They’re getting healthy produce,
Best Practices and Tips for Food Safety in Schools
Peek into one of The FruitGuys’ facilities on a day when pre-cut produce arrives, and you’ll see our operations team in full secret service mode. A temperature-controlled truck pulls up to the loading dock, and they jump into the back to check the temperature of the truck and the sliced
Fun Holiday Fruit Traditions to Share with Your Students
Most American students are familiar with a set of local holiday stories and traditions, from Santa Claus and Rudolph to the ball drop on New Year’s Eve. But there’s a wide world of holiday fun out there—and a lot of it involves healthy fruit! By bringing these traditions into your